August 17, 2024
For the past few days, I have been getting up to walk around my new city. I do this for a couple of different reasons: first, I need exercise; second, I have always loved the morning sun; and third, it is a great way to discover new things. The first day out for a walk I left my house at 7:00 a.m. - wow, that was way to late because the strength of the sun and the humidity cut my walk shorter than I wanted it to be. So, day two, I left the house at 6:00 a.m., again a walk for me is about 45 minutes to an hour. By the time I was home my cloths were stuck to my skin. The local librarian told me she gets up at 5:00 because it is still cool, so that is what I tried, it was the perfect time of day. You see the sun rises in Misato city around 4:30 a.m. and the temperature begins to climb between 7 and 8 a.m.
I just wanted to share some of the beautiful landscape pictures I have taken in the morning as well as some of the new creatures I have seen.
A walk on the river path. A path along the river must start in another city because I have been walking between 23 km and 26 km markers.
This path is used by bikers, joggers, and walkers.
Wagyu cattle are raised in ventilated barns, not in open fields like in America. On my morning walks, I see the farmer and his wife out in their garden doing their chores.
I’ve observed an interesting trend in the rice fields around my area: they’ve all been planted at different times, even within the same farm. For instance, the field above still has a couple of months before harvest, with the rice looking lush and green. Meanwhile, the field below is beginning to show signs of its impending harvest as the rice heads grow heavy, though they haven’t turned golden just yet. It looks like this field still has about a month to go. It’s fascinating to see the varying stages of growth and the careful timing involved in rice farming.
On a drive just a short distance from my home, I caught sight of fields on the verge of harvest. Although I didn’t stop to snap a photo because I was on the move, I observed an interesting detail: the fields were adorned with metallic streamers and hawk-shaped wind socks. These clever deterrents are designed to keep birds away from crops. I will definitely take a picture the next time I see this.
This is a picture of the preschool and my apartment complex. I will visit this school as part of my assignment here in Misato.
Next, I will share a few of the critters I have spotted. First, when I got home, I looked up a big yellow and black spider to find out its name. It is a Joro Spider, which I learned can bite humans.
I found this little guy just after a night of rain.
I still don't know what this bird is, but it is nesting in the shrubs along the side of the path.
I am not sure if this is the same type of bird I came across earlier in my walk, but that one was a big, fatter bird that acted like a grouse or pheasant.
As I strolled along the river this morning, I encountered a flock of
Great Egrets nestled in the trees. These majestic birds, usually seen individually in the rice fields around my area, gather in these trees by the river at night, creating a serene and captivating scene.
Yesterday’s walk brought another intriguing encounter. I spotted what appeared to be a mother and a smaller young
weasel—darting through the underbrush. Unfortunately, my attempt at a photo didn’t turn out, but the brief sighting added a touch of excitement to my morning routine. As soon as I got back home, I did a quick search online for weasels and ferrets.
These daily walks along the river are a delightful way to begin each day, offering a chance to connect with the natural world in all its beauty and unpredictability.
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